Former Prosecutor
Will County State's Attorney's Office
20+ Years
Legal Experience
95% Success
First-Hearing Success Rate
100% Remote
No Travel to Illinois Required
Missouri Resident with an Illinois License Hold? We Cleared a Client with 11 DUI Arrests
If you live in Missouri and the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) has told you that an Illinois revocation is preventing you from obtaining or renewing your Missouri driver's license, you are dealing with an interstate hold that can only be resolved through the Illinois Secretary of State. The Missouri DOR cannot remove this hold — no matter how long ago your Illinois case occurred, and no matter how much time has passed since you completed your court requirements.
Attorney Jack L. Zaremba is a former Will County prosecutor who focuses his practice on clearing Illinois license holds for out-of-state residents. He has represented Missouri clients from St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, and communities throughout the state — including one of the most challenging reinstatement cases ever brought before the Illinois Secretary of State.
Featured Missouri Case: 11 DUI Arrests — Full Clearance on the First Attempt
This is one of the most complex out-of-state reinstatement cases our firm has ever handled — and one we are most proud of.
Our client was a Missouri resident who had accumulated 11 DUI arrests over the course of his lifetime. By any measure, this was an extraordinarily difficult case. Many attorneys would have advised this client that his situation was hopeless.
We disagreed.
The key to a case like this is meticulous preparation. With a history this extensive, the Illinois Secretary of State scrutinizes every detail — the client's drinking history, the pattern of offenses, the quality and depth of treatment, the sincerity of lifestyle changes, and whether the client presents as a genuine and credible risk to public safety. There is no margin for inconsistency.
We spent significant time preparing this client to testify truthfully and consistently about his entire alcohol history — from his first offense through his last — and to articulate in specific, credible terms the changes he had made in his life. We ensured his alcohol evaluation properly reflected the complexity of his history, that his treatment records were complete and well-documented, and that every piece of required documentation was in order.
The result: the Illinois Secretary of State granted our client full clearance of his Illinois license hold on the very first attempt. He is now driving legally in Missouri.
If you believe your case is too difficult or your history is too complicated for anyone to help, this result should change your mind. See more of our successful case results →
How an Illinois Hold Blocks Your Missouri License
When the Missouri DOR processes a new license application or renewal, it checks the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) — a federal database that tracks drivers with revocations, suspensions, or serious violations in any state. If Illinois has a revocation on your record, Missouri will see it and refuse to issue your license until the hold is cleared.
As a border state, Missouri has an unusually high number of residents affected by Illinois holds. Many people who grew up in the St. Louis metro area, attended school in Illinois, or worked across the river in East St. Louis or other Illinois communities picked up DUI charges in Illinois years or even decades ago. They completed their court cases, paid their fines, and assumed the matter was behind them. But under Illinois law, completing your court requirements does not automatically restore your driving privileges. The revocation is a separate administrative action that stays on your record indefinitely.
Missouri gives new residents 60 days to transfer an out-of-state license after establishing residency. If your license is valid or expired less than 184 days, Missouri waives the written and skills tests — you only need to pass a vision and road sign recognition test. But none of that matters if an Illinois hold is sitting in the NDR. The DOR will not process your application until the hold is removed.
For Missouri residents whose Illinois license has been expired for more than 184 days — which is common when someone has been living with an unresolved hold for years — the situation becomes even more complicated. You would need to pass the full Missouri written test, vision test, road sign recognition test, and skills test just to get your license, on top of resolving the Illinois hold first.
How the Process Works for Missouri Residents
Attorney Zaremba's practice is built for out-of-state clients. Every step of the reinstatement process is handled remotely — from your initial consultation to the day your hold is removed from the national database.
Step 1 — Free Case Review: Attorney Zaremba pulls your Illinois driving record and evaluates the full scope of your situation — including how many offenses are on your record, what type of hearing is required, and what documentation you will need.
Step 2 — Evaluation & Documentation: We coordinate your alcohol or drug evaluation with providers who understand Illinois-specific requirements. For Missouri residents, this can often be completed locally with a provider who meets the Secretary of State's standards.
Step 3 — Hearing Preparation: This is where cases are won or lost. Attorney Zaremba prepares you to testify about your entire history — consistently, credibly, and thoroughly. The Secretary of State's hearing officers ask detailed questions about your arrest history, drinking patterns, treatment participation, and current lifestyle. A former prosecutor knows exactly what they are looking for.
Step 4 — WebEx Hearing: Your formal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State is conducted entirely by video via WebEx. Attorney Zaremba appears with you and handles the proceeding from start to finish.
Step 5 — Hold Cleared: Once the Secretary of State grants clearance, the hold is removed from the NDR. You take that clearance documentation to your local Missouri DOR office to obtain or renew your Missouri driver's license.
Why Even the Most Difficult Cases Can Be Won
Many Missouri residents with Illinois holds have been told — by other attorneys, by well-meaning friends, or by their own assumptions — that their case is too complicated, their history is too long, or their chances are too slim. Our 11-DUI Missouri case proves otherwise.
The difference between a successful outcome and a denial almost always comes down to preparation. The Illinois Secretary of State does not simply verify that you completed treatment and stayed out of trouble. The hearing officer evaluates your credibility — whether your testimony is consistent, whether your understanding of your own history is genuine, and whether the changes you describe are believable and lasting.
As a former prosecutor, Attorney Zaremba spent years evaluating the credibility of witnesses and presenting cases to judges. That experience translates directly to Secretary of State hearings, where the ability to prepare a client to testify persuasively under detailed questioning is the single most important factor in the outcome.
Common Questions from Missouri Residents
I live in Missouri. Do I need to travel to Illinois for this?
No. The entire process is handled remotely. Your administrative hearing is conducted via WebEx video, and all preparation, evaluations, and documentation are completed without traveling to Illinois.
My Illinois DUI was 15 years ago. Do I still need to deal with this?
Yes. Illinois revocations do not expire with time. Whether your offense was 5 years ago or 25 years ago, the hold remains on the national database until you go through the Secretary of State's reinstatement process. The Missouri DOR will continue to see it every time you attempt to obtain or renew a license.
I have multiple DUIs on my record. Is my case hopeless?
No. Attorney Zaremba has successfully cleared holds for clients with extensive histories, including the 11-DUI Missouri case described above. Multiple-DUI cases require more extensive preparation and documentation, but they are far from hopeless with the right attorney.
I got my DUI in the St. Louis area years ago and moved to the Missouri side. Can you still help?
Absolutely. This is one of the most common situations we see — someone who lived or worked in the Metro East (East St. Louis, Belleville, Collinsville, Granite City) or elsewhere in Illinois, picked up a DUI, and later moved to the Missouri side. The Illinois hold follows you regardless of where you live now.
How long does the reinstatement process take?
Most cases are resolved within 2 to 4 months. More complex cases — such as those involving multiple offenses or lifetime revocations — may take somewhat longer due to the additional documentation and preparation required.
Ready to Clear Your Illinois Hold? Call Today
Attorney Zaremba will review your Illinois driving record and tell you exactly what it will take to get your Missouri license back — free of charge.
We Help Clients Across the Country
Attorney Zaremba has cleared Illinois license holds for clients nationwide. Click your state below for details on how Illinois holds affect your state's licensing process.
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